Fish report

LAKE OROVILLE: Craig Newton of Will Fish Tackle in Auburn reported salmon trollers are scoring up to 6 fish in the 3- to 4-pound range trolling Speedy Shiners, Brad’s Cut Plugs, or Glo Hoochies in the normal locations near the Green Bridge or the dam. The only ramp open is at Bidwell with the lake at 35 percent.

FEATHER RIVER: A few shakersize and occasional keeper striper are being caught near Yuba City. Overall, action is slow, but could improve immediately after steelhead smolts are released in February. Salmon fishing is closed. SACRAMENTO RIVER, Red Bluff to Colusa: A few trophy stripers are being caught in the low-flow conditions on the Sacramento River. Sturgeon haven’t moved upriver yet because of low flows. A few anglers are targeting rainbows and steelhead closer to Red Bluff. Fishing pressure is light. SACRAMENTO RIVER, Verona to Colusa: Heavy rain and increased flows are needed to draw sturgeon into the Knights Landing area. Fishing is slow for stripers, with few anglers fishing. AMERICAN RIVER, Sacramento: Steelhead season opened with a thud with few steelhead reported despite scores of anglers drifting or from the banks. The water is clear and cold, and the steelhead are reluctant to bite with the heavy pressure. Craig Newton of Will Fish and Bait drifted from Sailor’s Bar to Sunrise with plugs, roe, spoons, or spinners for only a single bump on a plug. There are still spawning salmon in the redds, but the water flows have been continually dropped from 1478 to 1300 cfs within the week. AMERICAN RIVER, above Folsom: Access is limited due to the weather conditions, but a few large browns have been caught and released as it is catch and release barbless hooks only above Folsom.

TRINITY RIVER: Steelhead fishing is best between Lewiston and Junction City, but the river is crowded. The water remains low, although rain is falling this week. A boost in flows will draw in more steelhead from the Klamath River and kick fishing into high gear. Flows are 316 cfs at Lewiston,

366 cfs at Douglas City, 381 cfs at Junction City, and 939 cfs at Willow Creek.

LAKE SHASTA: John Boitano of Phil’s Propellers reported numbers of bass are found on plastics such as Z-Man, Hula Grubs, Senkos, or jigs in cinnamon or greenpumpkin at depths from 15 to 60 feet with the best action between 35 and 45 feet as the bass are loading up on crawdads. For trout, Jeff Goodwin of Jeff Goodwin’s Guide Service said, “It’s been quality over quantity right now, but I expect the sustained low-pressure system to help the fish settle down and go back on a steady bite. Our best action has come on spoons or Brad’s Kokanee Plugs at 2.8 mph on three colors of leadcore or 2⁄3-ounce snap weight in the Sacramento or McCloud Arms. At the present time, the public docks of Centimudi, Sugar Loaf, Jones Valley, and Packer’s Bay are open, but the Packer’s ramp is getting dangerous. There is a long walk back to the parking area at all of the ramps.